Update: The wide rollout appears to be a go. Hearthstone is live for us here in the US, and we're hearing from readers in other countries that it's now available as well.

Blizzard's notoriously addictive and enjoyable ETCG Hearthstone is now available for Android tablets - if you live in the right region. Blizzard has started a geo-restricted rollout of the immensely popular title in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. The game is also only compatible with tablets, with Blizzard stating a phone version may be in the cards next year.

Players on Android will receive a free pack of cards after completing their first game, and of course being that Hearthstone is powered by Blizzard's Battle.net, the game should be fully cross-compatible with the iOS version in terms of sync and online play.

Like the rest of you not in the aforementioned countries, I too am waiting with great anxiety for the larger rollout to begin "in the coming days" on Google Play and the Amazon Appstore.

If you've not played Hearthstone and are wary of the IAP aspect, fear not - Hearthstone is widely-regarded as one of the most fair and accessible free-to-play games currently available. While players throwing money at their decks do have an advantage in terms of card selection and variety, players who choose to forego investment are by no means hamstrung. Blizzard does make it such that you must pay for content packs if you want them - the only one currently available is the Naxxramas scenario, which will set you back $25, though allow you to play through some fun story scenarios earning you some impressive cards along the way.

I don't know. ARPGs + touch = I'm not so sure. Diablo and Diablo II had pretty finnicky targeting and tiny text, you'd have to make some substantial modifications.

humulos

What are you talking about. Secret of Mana works great as long as you ignore accidentally getting hit all the time because there is no tactile feel to pressing buttons and thus your thumb loses it's place. Other than that it's great! /s

Protoss

Diablo without a keyboard or a gamepad is just impossible to play, just forget about it.

borosky

actually i played through Diablo 1 on my ancient htc dz aka g2, using fpse (psx emu), i got as far as level 10 before the game bugged out to no hope and the save got glitched... but i spent a lot of time and it was grand while it lasted

This is excellent to know! Would you happen to know if a keyboard + mouse combo would work for this?

Mayoo

"with Blizzard stating a phone version may be in the cards next year"

Fatal1ty_93_RUS

except that in reality they promised to make an iPhone-compatible version almost half-a-year ago and it still isn't out, personally I wouldn't even hope for that to happen with Android devices below 6"

SlasH3R

mobile version will com on 1Q or 2Q...
you haven read that is different, search a bit more and stop cryn u.u

epsiblivion

Naxxramas can also be purchased with gold. the entire game is free to play

bryan_larsen

I would have cared, but Scrolls was released a few days ago, and I'm really enjoying that.

RBI411

Desperately hoping that I can use Amazon Coins to purchase packs. They take Google Play and iTunes store credit, and I want to get rid of these damn things on something useful if I can.

DaHui623

Holy crap, yes!!! I have so many of those sitting around collecting dust.

RBI411

I've got $38 worth and I'd gladly drop almost all of it on packs. I think after tax it would work out to somewhere in the neighborhood of 32 packs.

RBI411

I can confirm you can use Amazon coins to purchase packs, plus you get bonus coins for making IAP in Hearthstone for a while. I think its a 50% bonus.

DaHui623

This is excellent news. Time to spend some coins.

tanjiajun34

Anyone got it side loaded and running on Nexus 5? Mine keep FCing.

blindexecutioner

Manually installing the obb files allows it to work on my nexus 6 up to the point it closes because it says it only works on 6 inch or larger tablets.

Reddit's /r/hearthstone is the friend of anyone wanting it. If you're under 6", and not on Lollipop, with Xposed's App Settings, you can get it running just fine.

Cody Shiranai

Odd, but serious question:

Do "phablets" really not count for tablets for the purpose of those few apps that are restricted to tablets on Android or is it entirely up to the developer?

For obvious example: the Galaxy Note 4, LG G3, or the Nexus 6? Could they count as tablets given they are just shy of 6 inches (except the N6 which is 6)?

Tomasz Kuczynski

See, the Global rollout happened. I can install the app through Play Store but it informs me that Nexus 6 is not big enough.

someone755

Hey at least it's not US-only. SUCK IT, 'MURICA!

Ryan R.

running well on my xperia z compact, thanks to those who gave the reddit link

awesome present! :D

Andreas H

Also have a z3 compact, hooow? :D

Barry Ray

Just downloaded it from play store in the us on my first gen n7, so us launch seems go.

Miguel Vega

Not compatible with LG G3!!! WTF???

Conan

Tablets only, my friend

Miguel Vega

Thanks for telling me. Didn't know that.

Jonathan Taylor

In NZ this is available. Its awesome, a good port that works mint. I played this game for over a year without paying a cent, then I brought some packs because I was such a fan of how the IAP's were not in your face in any way. Bravo Blizzard, bravo.

Ray Sunghwa Woo

Cmon' this game will work fabulously on Note 4 with stylus.
Blizzard make this work on Note.

nagi

Out in Hungary too...

Joao Vitor Viel

Probably a workaround can be made to work on phones, since you can run ipad version on iphone, just modifing some config files

Dorkmaster Flek

Correction: You do NOT have the pay for content packs (ex. Naxxramas) with real money. The Naxx wings are purchasable with gold as well, just like card packs. It might take a little while, but you can do it totally free if you want.